With still much to prove—and improve upon—as a college player, Memphis freshman wing Adonis Thomas will announce Wednesday afternoon that he is returning to play his sophomore season with the Tigers.

A source close to the program said Thomas, a native of Memphis, will remain a Tiger after averaging 8.8 points in 19 games as a freshman. He was bothered by an ankle injury that cost him nearly half the season but returned to play 15 minutes and score six points in the team’s opening NCAA Tournament loss to Saint Louis.

Thomas (6-6, 226) is an exceptional athlete and should fit directly into the starting spot left vacant when small forward Will Barton chose to enter the 2012 NBA draft.

There are similarities between Thomas and Ohio State sophomore Deshaun Thomas in that each is powerfully built and can score from the perimeter and in the post. Adonis must improve his ability to get to the free-throw line, however. Only three times did he attempt more than two free throws in a game.

Thomas made 40.5 percent of his 3-point shots, although his attempts were limited because of the games he missed. His best game as a freshman was against Tennessee in the Maui Invitational, when he scored 19 points in a double-overtime victory. He also scored 15 and was 7-of-8 from the field in a Conference USA victory over UAB.